Analysis of Increased Rainfall in Daytona Beach, Florida and Its Impact on Infrastructure
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
In Person or Zoom Presentation
In-Person
Campus
Daytona Beach
Status
Student
Faculty/Staff Department
Civil Engineering
Student Year and Major
2026 Civil Engineering
Presentation Description/Abstract
Infrastructure is typically built to last for tens, if not hundreds of years with built-in safety factors to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions. One element that appears to be changing more rapidly than infrastructure can keep up with, is rainfall intensity and frequency. In this study, data was collected from the NOAA Data and Inventory Website between January 2016 and December 2024 to detect changes in the amount, frequency and intensity of rainfall events in Daytona Beach, Florida. The dataset was processed and analyzed to deduce repeated trends amongst rainfall events that may contribute to the performance of civil infrastructure. Preliminary findings suggest that the average amount of rainfall is increasing in both amount, frequency, and intensity over the studied period. The rate at which weather intensity is increasing is significantly greater than the rate of infrastructural upkeep, thus the drainage systems in place are not properly designed to accommodate the excessive amounts of runoff. This can result in roadways, neighborhoods, drainage channels and similar impervious areas having issues with flooding. These conditions pose significant risk to residents, including property damage, impaired mobility and increased public safety hazards.
Keywords
Flooding, Infrastructure, Rainfall, Drainage, Roadway, Data Analysis, Stormwater Management, Daytona Beach
Analysis of Increased Rainfall in Daytona Beach, Florida and Its Impact on Infrastructure
Infrastructure is typically built to last for tens, if not hundreds of years with built-in safety factors to withstand a wide range of environmental conditions. One element that appears to be changing more rapidly than infrastructure can keep up with, is rainfall intensity and frequency. In this study, data was collected from the NOAA Data and Inventory Website between January 2016 and December 2024 to detect changes in the amount, frequency and intensity of rainfall events in Daytona Beach, Florida. The dataset was processed and analyzed to deduce repeated trends amongst rainfall events that may contribute to the performance of civil infrastructure. Preliminary findings suggest that the average amount of rainfall is increasing in both amount, frequency, and intensity over the studied period. The rate at which weather intensity is increasing is significantly greater than the rate of infrastructural upkeep, thus the drainage systems in place are not properly designed to accommodate the excessive amounts of runoff. This can result in roadways, neighborhoods, drainage channels and similar impervious areas having issues with flooding. These conditions pose significant risk to residents, including property damage, impaired mobility and increased public safety hazards.